Page 26 of Drop His Mask

Raven

Present Day

The guard shoved me into the surgical room, and I fell to my knees as he locked the door behind us.

Jayce bent down, grabbing me carefully by my arms and gently tugging me up. He leaned forward whispering into my ear, “What’s the plan?”

Looking over his shoulder, I watched the person wriggling on the operating table. I guessed it was a man.

Do I even want to know who it is?

“Let me think.” I walked to the weapons table, perusing the tools.

What if it’s a friend of mine?Can I kill them?

My eyes landed on an item on the table. It was hidden beneath a pair of industrial shears.

Picking it up along with the shears, I gestured for Jayce to follow me as I walked up to the captive.

On the outside I did my best to be perceived as calm and collected.

But on the inside, a part of me was shattering.

Until I know who they are. The person on the table could be a stranger to me, even if they are not. An illusion. A lie I could tell myself.

But do I even have to kill them?

With my mind made up, I reached forward pulling up the stranger’s sleeve.

Icy cold tendrils wrapped up my throat, constricting my airway.

On his wrist there was a small tattoo. I recognized it.

A single scarlet rose petal stared up at me.

Without any further hesitation, I used the shears to quickly remove the hood.

“Quinn!” Jayce burst out behind me, causing me to jump forward.

Quinn’s eyes found mine for a moment of confusion, but then I could tell the moment he recognized me.

Not as Anadil.

But as Raven.

He stopped struggling, instead his attention zeroed in on me. Scrutinizing me through the mask. His body relaxed.

I removed the gag from his mouth. He panted, his breath leaving in irregular gasps, but not say anything.

“It’s okay, just work with us and we’ll get you out of here.” My hands shook as I dropped the shears next to him.

Quinn still didn’t speak as I used the other item I had retrieved from the weapon’s table.

A key.

My fingers were numb as I attempted to unlock his cuffs. After a few attempts, Jayce took them from me.

He stood behind me, his breath in my ear. “Are you sure? It’s been years.”

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